Scenery-brace.



No. 704,703. Patented July i5, I902.

F. T. LIPPiNCOTT..

SCENERY BBABE.

(Application filed Mar, 24, 1902.

(In Modei.)

B Y A Afrom UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK T. LIPPINCOTT, OF NEWARK, OHIO.

SCENERY-BRACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 704,703, dated July 15, 1902.

Application filed March 24, 1902. Serial No, 99,601. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern..-

Be it known that I, FRANK T. LIPPINCOTT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Licking and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvementin Scenery-l3races, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to-the improvement of scenery-braces of that class which are adapted for use on theater-stages; and the objects of myinvention are to provide an improved brace of this class of great strength and durability, by means of which sceneryframework may be readily and conveniently braced or held in connection with a stagefloor in desirable positions, and to produce certain improvements in details of construction and arrangement of parts, which will be more fully pointed out hereinafter. These objects I accomplish in the manner illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved brace, showing the same in use. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view of the lower end portion of my improved brace. Fig. 3 is a similar view in detail of the upper end portion of said brace. Fig. 4 is a detail view in elevation illustrating the manner of connecting the sections of the brace. Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 3 'y of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is asectional view on line x a; of Fig. 5, and Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the scenery-frame-engagin g hook.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views;

In carrying out my invention I construct the brace-body of two or more sections 1 and 2, these sections being adapted to be adj ustably connected in the manner hereinafter described.

Fulcrumed on the upper end of the upper section 1 is one end of a pin 3, the upper portion of this pin passing loosely through parallel projecting lips or flanges 4: of a scenerya socket 8 in the disk 8, this engagement being effected when the disk is thrown outward or is not projected through the opening 9. The spring-supported pin 8 serves by engaging the socket 8 to retain the disk from further outward movement; but owing to the fact that the outer side of said pin in its lower end portionis, as indicated in Fig. 6, beveled the engagement of the pin and socket does not prevent the inward movement of said disk, this latter movement causing the pin to be lifted out-of said socket.

10 represents a spring, the ends of which are suitably connected with the pivot of the pin 3 and the central and yoke-like portion of which exerts a pressure against theouter face of said pin.

The lower end of the lower bracesection 2 is provided on opposite sides with parallel downwardly extending angular plates 11. Rigidly secured betweenthese plates, at the inner ends and lower portions of the outtnrned plate-arms 11*, is a plate having a downwardly-projectin g and slightly-inclined floor-engaging point 12. Fulcrumed between the upper and outer portions of the platearms 11 is the cam-head of an outwardly-projecting lever-arm 13.

14 represents a hook-bar which is pivoted between the plates 11, the inner end portion .of said hook-bar extending, as shown, he-

neath the cam-head of the lever 13 and terminating in a downwardly-extending stage or floor engaging point 14.

As indicated more clearly in Fig. 4 of the drawings, I provide the upper end of the lower section 2 witha laterallyrprojecting keeper or yoke 15 and provide the lower end portion of the upper section 1 with an oppositely-projecting similar keeper or yoke 16, the upper keeper 15 being adapted to loosely embrace the section 1 and the projecting pontion of the lower keeper 16 being likewise adapted to loosely embrace the section 2. In the construction of the keeper or yoke 16 I provide the same at its outer end with parallel lip projections 17, between which is pivoted the cam-head 18 of a clamping-lever 19, the head of said lever being adapted when forced downward to exert a desirable clamping pressure against a bearing-plate 20, which is detachably inserted between the section 1 and said lever-head. It is obvious by turning the lever 19 upward, and thereby decreasing the pressure of its head upon the plate 20, the upper and lower brace-sections 1 and 2 may be made to slide longitudinally one against the other, thus providing for an adjustment in the length of the sectional brace.

In utilizing myinvention the sectionalhook body 5 is, as indicated in the drawings, caused to embrace the upper side or bar of a sceneryframe, such as is indicated at 21, the latter being supported in a desirable upright position on the stage-floor 22. This being accomplished, the upper bar of said scenery-frame is firmly locked or clamped into engagement with the hook-body 5 by so turning the brace 1 2 and its pin 3 as to project the disk 8 or a portion thereof through the opening 9 and into binding contact with the frame 21, thus locking the upper end of the frame into substantially rigid engagement with the hook 5. This being accomplished, the brace may be swung outward to the desired angle with the scenery-frame. The fixed point 12 is now forced into the stage-floor in the manner indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, after which the point 14 of the hook-bar 14 is driven into the stage-floor by a downward pressure on the lever 13, which through contact of its cam-head with the upper side of the inner end of the hook-bar 14 serves to brace the point l4 firmly into the floor. In this con nection it will be observed that the points are thus inserted on converging lines, which insures a firm grip on the wood which forms the stage-flooring. When it is desired to release this engagement of the points and stage, it is obvious that a downward pressure of the foot on the projecting portion of the bar 14 will assist in withdrawing the point 14 from the floor, after which the brace may be readily withdrawn.

It will be seen that by the use of my improved brace scenery-frames may be braced orsupported atdesirable angles withthestage floor and that the means employed for connecting the brace both with the scenery-frame and floor of the stage are simple and such engagements may be rapidly effected. Owing to the formation of the scenery-frame-engaging hook 5 into two adjustably-connected sections, it is obvious that said sections may be arranged so as to properly embrace sceneryframe pieces of different thicknesses. It will also be'observed that the floor-engaging points 12 and 14 may be formed comparatively small, so that marring or injury to the stage-floor will be exceedingly slight.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is p 1. In a scenery-brace, the combination with a brace-body, a pin 3 connected with said body and a sceneryframe-engaging hook with which said pin is pivotally connected, of a binding-disk 8 carried eccentrically on said pin and adapted to be projected within said hook-body and means for detachably connecting the lower end of said brace-body with a stage-floor.

. 2. In a scenery-brace, the combination of a brace-body, a spring-pressed pin 3 having a hinge connection with the upper portion of said body, a scenery-frame-engaging hook with which said pin is pivotally connected, a binding disk 8 carried on said pin and adapted to be projected within said hook and means connected with the lower end of the brace-body for detachably engaging the same with a stage-floor, substantially as specified.

3. In ascenery-brace, the combination with a brace-bod y and a scenery-frame-engaging hook at its upper end, of an angular extension at the base of said brace, a fixed floorengaging pointed projection 12 on said extension, a pivoted bar 14 having a floor-engaging point and a cam-lever pivoted in connection with said brace extension and adapted by depression to drive the point 14 of said bar into engagement with a fioor, substantially as specified.

4. In a scenery-brace, the combination with a brace body comprising adjustably connected upper and lower sections, a sceneryframe-engaging hook having a hinge connection with the upper end of the upper section and an eccentrically-mounted clamping-disk carried byone arm of said hook and adapted to be projected through an opening in said arm, of an angular extension 11 at the base of the lower brace-section, a fixed floor-engaging point and a pivoted point-carrying bar connected with said extension and a pivoted lever adapted to press the point of said pivoted bar into engagement with a floor, substantially as specified.

FRANK T. LIPPINOOTT.

In presence of- JAMES F. LINGAFELTER, JOHN B. MOORE. 

